Sources tell AsiaNews that al-Qaeda operatives are in Syria to pursue the jihad. The interests of the Arab League are fuelling the climate of hatred and violence, reducing hope for a lasting diplomatic solution.

Damascus (AsiaNews)
- "Muslim extremists are hijacking the pro-democracy movement that came out of
the March demonstrations of young unemployed Syrians," sources told AsiaNews. In their view, what started
out as peaceful protests against the regime has morphed into an armed struggle
that is leading the country in the direction of a bloody civil war.

"So many
interests are involved in the fight against Assad, and not all of them with the
well-being of the Syrian people at heart," the sources said. "Foreign Muslim
terrorists, some from al Qaeda, have joined the ranks of the rebels. They are
in Syria to fight a jihad against the regime and defend the interests of
countries in the Arab League. This is fuelling a climate of violence and hatred
and is undermining hope for a diplomatic solution based on talks between the
parties."

"People are
afraid," they added. "A curfew has been imposed on Damascus. The city is
divided between those who are in favour of the regime and those in favour of
the rebels. The same is true in other cities." For the sources, Syria is at
impasse as violence begets counter-violence.

The recent
constitutional referendum highlighted these divisions. Although the new
constitution ends the Baa'th party monopoly of power, opening society and
politics to pluralism, contrary to the claims that 87 per cent voted Yes (with
a 57 per cent turnout), the actual results indicate that less 50 per cent of
those who cast their ballot were in favour of the new constitution. "Such a
result hurts the regime, but also the opposition, which failed in its boycott
campaign," the sources said.

Meanwhile in Homs,
fighting between troops loyal to Assad family and the rebels of the Free Syrian
Army continue.

This morning,
the Red Cross was able to bring aid to Syrian refugees who fled the violence in
the city's Baba Amr district. The latter has suffered the brunt of the fighting
and remains off limits to aid workers.

Today, Arab League
General Secretary Nabil al-Arabi announced that Syrian authorities have
accepted Kofi Annan as a special UN envoy. He is scheduled to arrive in
Damascus next Saturday.

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